Virtual features of physical items

ABSTRACT

Physical objects are placed on an interactive surface. Features of the physical objects are detected, as is position information of the physical objects. Callouts are then presented next to one or more features of the physical objects. Some of the callouts present information related to the features and/or physical objects. Some of the callouts are interactive.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/686,286 filed on Mar. 14, 2007 and entitled “VIRTUAL FEATURES OFPHYSICAL ITEMS,” which application is hereby expressly incorporatedherein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Background and Relevant Art

When purchasing goods and services, a purchaser at a purchase locationhas a limited number of ways to ascertain information about goods orservices to be purchased. For example, if a good to be purchased ispackaged in a box, the box may include information about certainfeatures about the good. Alternatively, a brochure may be provided tothe purchaser which includes various features of goods or services to bepurchased. Boxes and brochures can be expensive to provide, and becauseof size limitations they are only able to provide a limited amount ofinformation at any given time.

A purchaser may also discover information about goods or services to bepurchased by asking an employee at the purchase location. However, thepurchaser's ability to obtain relevant and factual information may belimited by the employees ability to provide such information.Additionally, during busy periods at the purchase location, employeesmay be difficult to locate or to converse with.

Other self help methods exist, but the self help methods as presentlyimplemented are limited in their ability to provide information. Forexample, many purchase locations include bar code scanners were apurchaser can scan the barcode stock keeping unit (SKU) number of anitem. However, these bar code scanners are typically limited in theinformation provided and are typically limited to a general descriptionwhich includes the manufacturer of the good, the style of the good, andthe price for the good. However, the information presented it is notinteractive and additional information cannot be obtained other than thelimited descriptive information provided.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments thatsolve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such asthose described above. Rather, this background is only provided toillustrate one example of a technology area where some embodimentsdescribed herein may be practiced.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment described herein a method for displaying informationabout a physical object is described. The method may be practiced in acomputing environment including an interactive surface interface. Themethod includes receiving input at an interactive surface. The inputincludes a first physical object being placed on the interactivesurface. The first physical object is detected. This includes detectingidentifying information about the first physical object. Information isdisplayed about the first physical object on the interactive surface.

Other embodiments implement the preceding method in computer systems orin computer program products including computer readable media. Othersystems and methods may also be implemented.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. Thefeatures and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out inthe appended claims. These and other features of the present inventionwill become more fully apparent from the following description andappended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention asset forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a moreparticular description of the invention briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not thereforeto be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive surface and a physical object on theinteractive surface, and information about the physical object beingdisplayed on the interactive surface;

FIG. 2 illustrates an interactive surface and a physical object on theinteractive surface, and information in call-outs to features about thephysical object being displayed on the interactive surface;

FIG. 3 illustrates an interactive surface and a physical object on theinteractive surface, and a virtual interface for the physical object;

FIG. 4 illustrates an interactive surface and physical objects andcomparisons information about the physical objects being displayed onthe interactive

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention extends to an interactive interface that allows apurchaser to obtain information about a physical object by interactingwith the interface. The embodiments of the present invention maycomprise a special purpose or general-purpose computer including variouscomputer hardware, as discussed in greater detail below.

One embodiment described herein facilitates a purchaser obtaininginformation about a physical object. The purchaser places a physicalobject on an interactive surface. The interactive surface includessensors for detecting the physical object on the interactive surface.The interactive surface may also be able to detect identifyinginformation about the physical object. For example, the interactivesurface may include bar code sensors for sensing bar codes on thephysical objects. Alternatively, the interactive surface may includeRadio Frequency Identifier (RFID) sensors for detecting RFID tags whichinclude identifying information identifying the physical object.Information about the physical object can then be displayed on theinteractive surface. The information presented may be interactive toallow a purchaser to obtain additional or more customized information.Additionally, in one embodiment, the information can be specificallydirected to a particular portion of the physical object to help identifyand describe features of the physical object. Further still, in oneembodiment, physical objects can be compared by placing two or morephysical objects on the interactive surface

Referring now to FIG. 1, an illustrative embodiment is illustrated. FIG.1 illustrates an interactive surface 100. The interactive surface 100may include functionality for detecting a physical object 102. When theinteractive surface 100 detects the physical object 102, informationabout the physical object 102 can be presented on the interactivesurface 100 as illustrated at 104.

Various types of information can be presented. For example, information104 may include descriptive information describing features of thephysical object 102. Illustratively, the features information of thephysical object 102 may include information about the capabilities ofthe physical object 102. The features information may includeinformation such as physical dimensions. The features information mayinclude information such as compatible operating environments,accessories, or other uses. Other information may alternatively oradditionally be included.

The information 104 may include ratings information. For example,reviews or comments by ratings organization or by other users may beincluded in the information 104. This may allow a purchaser to obtainadditional information about a physical item 102 where the informationhas been evaluated by other users or organizations.

The information 104 may further include advertisement information. Forexample, the information 104 may include textual informationhighlighting desirable features of the physical object 102.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the information 104 may include acommercial advertisement from an advertising campaign. Thus for example,when a purchaser has previously seen a commercial advertisement ontelevision, the purchaser can place a physical object 102 that thepurchaser believes to be the physical object previously seen in thecommercial advertisement on the interactive surface 100. The interactivesurface 100 can then detect the physical object 102 and display acommercial advertisement. When the purchaser sees that the commercialadvertisement is the same commercial advertisement previously seen, thepurchaser can be assured that they have selected the physical item thatwas previously seen in the commercial advertisement.

In yet another embodiment, after a consumer has purchased a product, theuser can return to the interactive surface 100 to buy accessoryproducts. The interactive surface 100 can detect the physical object 102and may be able to detect who the purchaser is, what services theybought originally, what features they use more than others, and be ableto target rebates and discount based on that information. Additionally,the interactive surface can make specific suggestions to the customer onwhat products and/or services would be most useful based on their usageof the detected physical object 102 or related purchase history.

Embodiments may include functionality for specifically pointing tofeatures of a physical object and providing contextual information aboutthose features. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates the interactive surface100. FIG. 2 further illustrates a physical object 202. When the physicalobject 202 is placed on the interactive surface 100, information aboutthe physical object may be presented in callouts 204(a), 204(b), 204(c),and 204(d). The call outs may include feature information for aparticular portion of a physical object, and may point to the particularportion of the physical object 202. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates thatthe physical object 202 is a shoe. Call out 204 (c) points to the heelsof the shoe 202. The call out 204(c) may include feature informationdescribing features of the heel of the shoe 202. While in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 2, the call outs are illustrated as a bubble callouts, other call outs may be used. In particular, any appropriate callout that identifies a portion of the physical object 202 and is able toprovide additional features about the identified portion of the physicalobject 202 may be suitable. Additionally, in one embodiment, calloutscan be interactive pieces of a user interface that can be moved around,manipulated, resized, etc.

Notably, for the interactive surface 100 to be able to correctlyidentify portions of the physical object 202, the interactive surface100 includes functionality for determining the position and orientationof the physical object 202. For example, if the interactive surface 100uses a barcode placed on the physical object 202 to identify thephysical object 202, the position of the barcode may provide asufficient amount of information for determining position andorientation information about the physical object 202. Thus, in oneembodiment, each sample of the same physical object may have the barcodeplaced in a consistent location. In alternative embodiments, thephysical interactive surface 100 may include touch sensors which allowthe interactive surface 100 to determine the shape of the physicalobject 202 according to the portions of the physical object 202 incontact with the interactive surface 100. Position and orientationinformation may be determined based on this touch feedback.

Additionally, embodiments are not limited to allowing for a singleorientation of the physical object 202. For example, in one alternativeembodiment, the same physical object 202 may be placed down in a varietyof ways create various experiences depending on the physical object'sdimensional orientation. Illustratively, a physical object 202 may beplaced down on various sides, upside down, on it's side, etc. In oneembodiment, each side has a unique tag to provide optimized informationfor a particular view.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, the information 104 may include ademonstration of features are characteristics of the physical object102. For example, suppose that the physical object 102 is a musicalcompact disc. The information 104 may include textual or graphicalinformation identifying musical works on the musical compact disc. Inaddition, the information 104 may include an audio sample of one or moreof the works on the musical compact disc.

Similarly, if the physical object 102 is a DVD, the information 104 mayinclude a clip of one or more scenes included on the DVD. In yet anothersimilar embodiment, if the physical object 102 is a game cartridge for avideo game, the interactive service 100 may display scenes from thevideo game scenarios or may alternatively display an interactive userinterface which allows a purchaser to play a demo version of the videogame prior to making purchasing decisions.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a generalized example of a virtual userinterface is illustrated. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, theinteractive surface 100 may detect a physical object 102. Theinteractive surface 100 may then display a virtual user interface 304which allows a purchaser to test functionality of the physical object102. The virtual interface 304 may be a virtual representation of a userinterface of the physical object 102, or a virtual representation of aninterface of another item used with the physical object 102. Forexample, FIG. 3 illustrates that the physical object 102 is a cellulartelephone and the virtual user interface 304 is a virtual user interfaceof the cellular telephone 102. Alternatively, if the physical object 102is a video game as described above, the virtual interface 304 may be avirtual interface of a game consoles used to play the video game.

Attention is now directed again to the example where the virtualinterface is a virtual interface of the detected physical object 102. Asan example, the physical object 102 may be a nonworking display versionof the physical object 102. For example, cellular telephones are oftensold based on a nonworking display of the cellular telephone. Thus, if apurchaser desires to test the features of a cellular telephone prior topurchase, difficulties may be encountered in that physically availableexamples do not include working functionality to demonstrate thefeatures. However, in one embodiment the nonworking display model may beplaced on the interactive surface 100 where a virtual interface 304 isdisplayed. A purchaser can then test features of working models of thecellular telephone.

Notably, in one embodiment, the virtual interface 304 may be used foreducational purposes. For example, the virtual interface may allow auser to watch feature specific tutorials for a product. In someembodiments, the user may then be able to interact with the virtualinterface 304 as part of the education experience teaching how to usethe particular product.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment is illustrated. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, two or more physical objects 102(a)and 102(b) can be compared using the interactive surface 100. Forexample, the interactive surface can detect the two physical objects102(a) and 102(b). The information 104 displayed includes comparativeinformation about the two physical objects 102(a) and 102(b).Comparative information may be displayed in a number of different ways.The example illustrated in FIG. 4 shows that the comparative information104 is displayed in a table format. This format may facilitate thecomparison of capabilities of similar features such that a directcomparison of one physical object to another physical object can befacilitated to facilitate purchaser purchasing decisions.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an example method 500 illustrating variousfeatures is shown. The method 500 includes various acts for providinginformation associated with physical objects. The method 500 includesreceiving input at an interactive surface, the input including aphysical object being placed on the interactive surface (act 502). Anexample of this is illustrated in FIG. 1 where a physical object 102 isplaced in the interactive surface 100.

The method 500 further includes detecting identifying information aboutthe physical object (act 504). As explained previously, this may beaccomplished in a number of different ways, including detecting abarcode tag or a RFID tag.

The method 500 further includes displaying information about thephysical object on the interactive surface. Displaying information aboutthe physical object may be accomplished in a number of different ways.As discussed in conjunction with the description of FIG. 1, displayingthe information 104 may include displaying textual descriptiveinformation about the physical object 102. Alternatively, displayinginformation 104 about the physical object 102 may include playing avideo about the physical object.

In one embodiment, callouts describing features of the first physicalobject may be displayed, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The callouts maypoint to specific portions of the physical object describing informationabout those portions of the physical object.

In another embodiment, displaying information about the first physicalobject on the interactive surface (act 506) may include displaying avirtual representation of the first physical object including a virtualinterface of the object. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a virtualinterface 304 of the physical object 102 being displayed. As describedpreviously, this allows a purchaser to virtually test the physicalobject 102 without needing a working example of the physical object 102.

In yet another embodiment, displaying information about the physicalobject on the interactive surface may include displaying ratings orreviews for the first physical object. As explained previously, users orratings organizations may submit review information which can beincluded in the information displayed.

The method 500 may be implemented such that displaying information aboutthe first physical object on the interactive surface includes displayingan advertisement or commercial for the physical object. For example, aprint advertisement or video commercial about the physical object may bedisplayed on the interactive surface.

The method 500 may further include playing a demo version of mediastored on the first physical object. For example, the demo version amusic clip or a video clip of a work stored on the first physicalobject. This may be implemented when the physical object is a musicalCD, DVD, cassette tape, video tape, or other media storing device. Whilethe clip is not necessarily read directly from the physical object, andmay be read from storage at the interactive surface, the clipnonetheless is an example of media that may be obtained by purchasingthe physical object.

Similarly, the method 500 may include embodiments where the demo versionis sample portion of a video game. Illustratively, a user may be able toplace a video game cartridge on the interactive surface. As illustratedin FIG. 3, a virtual interface 304 may be provided which would allow theuser to play the video game using the virtual interface 304. Otherembodiments allow the use of actual interfaces to be included at theinteractive surface to allow for playing the video game sample.

The method 500 may further include receiving user input where the userinput includes interaction from a user with the information about thephysical object. In response to the user input, additional informationis displayed about the physical object.

In another embodiment, the method 500 may include receiving input at theinteractive surface, where the input includes a second physical objectbeing placed on the interactive surface. The second physical object isdetected, including identifying information about the second physicalobject. Information is displayed on the interactive surface comparingthe first physical object to the second physical object.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention also includecomputer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executableinstructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readablemedia can be any available media that can be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carryor store desired program code means in the form of computer-executableinstructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to acomputer, the computer properly views the connection as acomputer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed acomputer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.

Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function orgroup of functions. Although the subject matter has been described inlanguage specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, itis to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appendedclaims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actsdescribed above. Rather, the specific features and acts described aboveare disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. In a computing environment, a method of providing informationassociated with physical objects, the method comprising: receiving inputat an interactive surface, the input comprising a first physical objectbeing placed on the interactive surface; detecting the first physicalobject, including detecting one or more features of the physical object;and displaying one or more callouts on the interactive surface proximatethe one or more features of the physical object to which the one or morecallouts correspond.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving user input comprising interaction from a user with theinformation about the first physical object that is displayed in the oneor more callouts; and in response to the user input, displayingadditional information about the first physical object.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein displaying information about the first physical objecton the interactive surface comprises displaying a video about the firstphysical object within the one or more callouts.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein displaying information about the first physical object on theinteractive surface comprises displaying a plurality of callouts, eachof the plurality of callouts pointing to a different portion of thefirst physical object.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting thefirst physical object includes detecting a first position and firstorientation of the first physical object on the interactive surface. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein detecting the first position and firstorientation of the first physical object is based on at least a positionof a barcode of the first physical object.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the method further includes: receiving new input at theinteractive surface, indicating that the physical object is nowpositioned on the interactive surface in at least a second dimensionalposition or orientation; and presenting a new display of one or moresecond items of information associated with the physical object, basedon the second dimensional position or orientation of the physical objecton the interactive surface.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one ormore callouts are presented as bubble callouts.
 9. A computer system fordisplaying information about physical objects, the computer systemcomprising: a processor, a computer memory coupled to the processor, thecomputer memory comprising computer executable instructions that whenexecuted by the processor cause the processor to perform the following:receive input at an interactive surface, the input comprising a firstphysical object being placed on the interactive surface; detect thefirst physical object, including detecting identifying information aboutthe first physical object; display information about the first physicalobject on the interactive surface in one or more callouts next tocorresponding features of the first physical object.
 10. The computersystem of claim 9, wherein the one or more callouts are interactive,such that they can at least be moved or manipulated by a user afterbeing presented on the interactive surface.
 11. The computer system ofclaim 9, wherein the display information comprises an advertisement. 12.The computer system of claim 9, wherein the display informationcomprises a dimension data related to at least one dimension associatedwith the first physical object.
 13. The computer system of claim 9,wherein the one or more callouts present information related to ratingsabout the first physical object.
 14. The computer system of claim 9,wherein the display information comprises capability informationassociated with capabilities of the first physical object.
 15. Thecomputer system of claim 9, wherein detecting the first physical objectincludes detecting at least a position and orientation of the firstphysical object.
 16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein detectingat least a position and orientation of the first physical object isbased on touch feedback received through the interactive surface whenthe first physical object is placed on the interactive surface.
 17. In acomputing environment, a computer readable storage medium storingcomputer executable instructions which, when executed by a computingprocessor, cause a computer system in communication with or including aninteractive surface to implement a method that includes the following:receiving input at an interactive surface, the input comprising a firstphysical object being placed on the interactive surface; detecting oneor more position of one or more features of the first physical object;and displaying one or more callouts on the interactive surface proximatethe one or more position of the one or more features of the firstphysical object to which the one or more callouts correspond.
 18. Thecomputer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the computerreadable medium is system memory.
 19. The computer readable storagemedium of claim 17, wherein the method further includes: receiving newinput at an interactive surface comprising a second physical objectbeing placed on the interactive surface; detecting one or more positionof one or more features of the second physical object; and displayingone or more callouts on the interactive surface proximate the one ormore position of the one or more features of the second physical object.20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the methodfurther includes interactively presenting content with one or morecallouts in response to new user input.